'Five Nights at Freddy's' Shatters Box Office Expectations with Record-Breaking Global Success

The Big Picture

The global box office success of Universal's Five Nights at Freddy's, which surpassed $100 million within its initial three days, signifies a promising opportunity for the creation of a fresh horror film franchise.

Despite receiving negative reviews and being released on Peacock at the same time as in theaters, the film was able to achieve impressive box office success, earning $78 million domestically and over $50 million from international markets.

Blumhouse's Five Nights at Freddy's has now become their highest-grossing opening film, surpassing the record previously held by the 2018 Halloween reboot. Additionally, it has achieved the best global opening for a horror movie in the current year and is the second-highest debut for a video game adaptation.

Universal's Five Nights at Freddy's not only exceeded expectations in its domestic box office debut, but it also achieved great success on a global scale. The horror video game adaptation, directed by Emma Tammi and produced by horror specialists Blumhouse, surpassed the $100 million mark worldwide within its first three days of release. This impressive achievement suggests that audiences may have just witnessed the birth of a new and promising scary movie franchise. Despite being produced on a reported budget of only $20 million, Five Nights at Freddy's proved once again that horror is the most financially rewarding genre when executed properly.

In its domestic opening, the movie grossed an estimated $78 million, while earning an additional $50 million from 60 international markets. Thus, the cumulative worldwide opening amounted to over $130 million. It is worth noting that the film faced some challenges, such as being simultaneously released on the Peacock streaming service in the U.S. and receiving notably negative reviews. Chase Hutchinson from our website described it as a "horrifyingly robotic video game adaptation," a sentiment shared by many, as Five Nights at Freddy's currently holds a "rotten" 25% score on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Despite this, fan reception has been much more positive, with opening day audiences giving it a solid A- CinemaScore.

We Might Have a New Horror Franchise on Our Hands

Image via Universal Pictures

Blumhouse's return to success is evident in the release of Five Nights at Freddy's, surpassing their previous flop, The Exorcist: Believer. Not only has the film received positive reviews, but it is also projected to exceed the domestic earnings of The Exorcist: Believer within just three days of release. This makes Five Nights at Freddy's Blumhouse's most successful opening, even surpassing the 2018 Halloween reboot which grossed $76 million domestically and $250 million globally. In addition, Five Nights at Freddy's has achieved the highest global debut for a horror film this year, surpassing The Nun II, and is the second highest-grossing video game adaptation, following The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

The film, based on the popular video game series, was specifically targeted towards a younger audience who eagerly flocked to theaters to experience it on the big screen. It features Josh Hutcherson as a night guard facing the terror of four animatronic mascots in an abandoned entertainment facility. Other notable cast members include Matthew Lillard, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, and Mary Stuart Masterson. You have the option to watch the film in theaters or from the comfort of your own home if you are in the U.S. Stay tuned to our website for more updates on Five Nights at Freddy's.

Watch Five Nights at Freddy's on Peacock

Five Nights at Freddy's

Experience the thrill for yourself as Five Nights at Freddy's, the beloved horror game, is transformed into a bone-chilling cinematic masterpiece by Blumhouse. Known for their spine-tingling productions such as M3GAN, The Black Phone, and The Invisible Man, Blumhouse brings forth an unforgettable live-action adaptation. Brace yourself as we delve into the tale of a troubled security guard who embarks on a daunting journey at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. With the clock ticking, he soon realizes that surviving the night shift at Freddy's is no easy feat. Mark your calendars for October 27, 2023, and prepare for a heart-pounding experience. Directed by Emma Tammi, this gripping film stars Josh Hutcherson, Matthew Lillard, Elizabeth Lail, and Mary Stuart Masterson, and falls under the PG-13 rating. With a runtime of 110 minutes, this horror spectacle is not to be missed by enthusiasts of the genre.